Self-powered backfiller attachment



Jan. 9, 1968 I c. F. SPEICHER ETAL. 3,362,092

SELF POWERED BACKF ILLER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 11, 1965 SSheets-Sheet l INVENTQRS 5 A LEA SpE/cHsR 1 1968 c. F. SPEICHER ETAL 3,352,092

V SELF-POWERED BACKIILLER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 11, 1965 3 Sheets$heet 2 Jan. 9, 1968 c. F. SPEICHER ETAL 3,362,092

SELF-POWERED BACKFILLER ATTACHMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 11, 1965 R 5T1 m Tmm 1 mi; VPP ms; MW E F. I! M: Y B

United States Patent 3,362,092 SELF-POWERED BACKFILLER ATTACHMENT: Carl F. Speicher and Marcus E. Speicher, Celina, Ohio,

assignors to Speicher Bros., Inc., Celina, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 424,732 2 (Jlairns. (Cl. 37-144) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to backfilling mechanism and particularly to a spiral blade type of device having a specially formed blade with inserts for cutting elements at the periphery of the blade which are inter-changeable and replaceable, these likewise being of a special shape. The entire mechanism is self-contained and intended to be supported on a separate propelling machine.

This invention relates to back filling equipment and particularly to a self-powered attachment which may be used with a conventional basic tractor or the like to carry out back filling operations at a substantially increased rate of speed over that heretofore known.

The desirability of improving the means for back filling trenches and particularly to those in which pipe lines are laid over all kinds of terrain, has long been present and such back filling has usually been accomplished by specialized equipment which in and of itself, if designed particularly for the job, had little other use or if intended as an all-purpose piece of equipment, was obviously not using its designed potential to the maximum.

It is therefore the intention of this concept to provide a back filling attachment which is based upon a new concept, namely the ability to operate a standard piece of equipment, carry on it a back filling attachment which is self-powered, and proceeding at a normal pace with vision completely unobscured, facilitate the back filling of trenches, or the like at a substantially increased rate of speed and with likewise increased efficiency.

Basically the unit hereof includes a body in the form of an arcuate shape blade which is mounted so as to extend transversely of a standard tractor and carried upon the usual mounting arms provided on such tractor, the body in turn having provided in front thereof a spiral blade which is substantially coextensive with the body, and intended to rotate usually in one direction so as to move the earth or other material in front of the machine to one side or the other while the machine is progressing forwardly, there being a power unit included in the attachment independent of the power unit of the propelling ma chine, which power unit will adequately handle substantially all types of material encountered and effectively move the same to the side thereof during the operation of the blade which in its spiral movement will carry large quantities of such material thereby.

The object of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing and it further includes the arrangement of all the various parts so that a compact unit is provided which may be attached to or detached from the tractor so that the tractor may be in turn used as a bulldozer or for other purpose, the self-containing back filler attachment hereof being a special purpose piece of equipment which is in turn provided with certain instrumentalities whereby the encountering of an obstruction will not rupture or fracture any part of the machine and further as wear may take place during normal operation of the blade, certain element which are replaceable may be used to increase the life of the basic body of the blade and likewise make the same more eificient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a back filler attachment construction which may be made in any of a large number of sizes but is primarily intended for heavy work with large capacity so that a swath of earth from 8 to 12 feet wide may be cleared and the back filling resulting thereby reduce the time involved to effect such back filling in accordance with presently known operational procedures.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the attachment showing the general arrangement thereof and particularly illustrating the spiral blade provided.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the attachment illustrating the mounting of the drive motor therefor and the drive connections to effect rotation of the spiral blade.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view somewhat fragmentary in nature illustrating the means of mounting the entire unit on a tractor of conventional form and further illustrating the means for effecting the drive of the spiral blade.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary detailed view partly in section illustrating certain of the drive components.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the cutting elements and the means for mounting and adjusting the same.

FIGURE 6 is a view of one of the cutting elements by itself.

Referring to FIGURE 3 particularly and initially, there is illustrated in a fragmentary manner a tractor 1 having the forwardly extending mounting arms 2, there being a pair of these, one being at each side of the machine, which arms are in turn connected at their forward extremities to a body of arcuate shape as suggested at 3, this body having certain end reenforcement such as 4 to stiffen the same and likewise having a transversely extending n'gidi fying member 5 as seen in FIGURE 2 as well as FIGURE 3 the body 3 in turn being connected by suitable links such as 6 with the arms 2 whereby to maintain the attitude of the body substantially as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and to permit the entire unit to be raised and lowered by the hydraulic piston and cylinder units generally denoted 7.

The piston and cylinder units 7 of course include the piston rods 8 connected at their extremities at 9 with the rigidifying member 5 and the cylinder section of the piston and cylinder unit 7 being connected to certain upstanding brackets 10 fastened at their lower extremities to the frame 11 of the tractor 1.

It will be apparent that by suitably directing hydraulic fluid to either end of the hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 7, the arms 2 may be raised and lowered and thus the entire attachment which for simplicity will be denoted as 12.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the body 3 is shown as having suitable brackets 13 and 14 extending upwardly therefrom and which in turn support the drive engine 15, this being a drive engine solely for the attachment now being described.

The drive engine in turn includes the usual transmission 16 and a drive limiting means 17 in the form of a friction clutch which is adjusted by means of suitable bolts and springs as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to limit the drive within certain areas to prevent fracture of any of the moving parts hereof.

The limiting means 17 is in turn connected to a universal joint 18 and drive shaft 19, another universal joint 20 being supplied at the other end thereof and in turn connected to the shaft 21 on which is mounted a drive sprocket 22.

The drive sprocket 22 is in turn driveably connected to the chain 23 and the sprocket and shaft 21 are supported 3 on suitable bearings such as 24 and 25 in an upper housing 26.

The upper housing 26 is in turn connected to a lower housing 27 as seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, this lower housing having suitable sprockets and chains therewithin and thus in effect providing for a reduction from the drive of the engine which is denoted 15 to the drive shaft 28 which extends transversely of the body 3 and is mounted at one end on the forwardly extending arm 30 and at the other carried by structure including the housing 27.

The drive shaft 28 is equipped with a spiral blade 31 formed in the manner disclosed so as to be continuous from one end of the shaft 28 to the other and this spiral blade is equipped with a stiffening element at the periphery thereof and denoted 32, this being an olfstanding flange in effect.

At the periphery of the spiral blade 31, are mounted the cutting elements 33, which are as illustrated in FIG- URE 6 all substantially identical and include the slots 34 and 35 therein, which are adapted to receive bolts such as 36. It will be apparent that the slots 34 and 35 provide for radial adjustment of the elements 33 as Wear may take place, also obviously providing for replacement of any such elements which may become broken or worn beyond adjustment.

Extending upwardly from the body 3 is a deflecting apron 36 which may be provided if desired or found necessary so as to prevent the earth or other material being moved by the blade 31 from being forced upwardly and over behind the same.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the engine 15 is adapted to drive the spiral blade 31 through the shaft 28 upon which the blade is mounted, and move earth or other material toward which the entire unit is directed to one side at any given rate of speed. This may be of course adjusted by the transmission 16 in accordance with the particular type of material and the terrain or other conditions encountered by the machine as a whole.

It is also pointed out that this engine 15 is entirely separate from the tractor 1 and as such facilitates the removal of the entire unit from the arms 2 when occasion may demand for whatever reason exists.

The entire back filling attachment may of course be raised and lowered as conditions demand during forward 4 movement of the tractor 1, there being also the possibility of regulating the amount of material to be moved by the blade 31 in accordance with such raising and lowering and the speed of operation of the blade 31.

We claim:

1. In a backfiller attachment of the class described, in combination, a body, means for attaching said body to a tractor or the like, a spiral blade extending along said body, and power means connected to said blade for rotating the same, said blade being a continuous spiral member mounted on a drive shaft, the power means being driveably connected at one end of said shaft for rotating the same and the member thereon, drive limiting means being interposed between the said power means and shaft to prevent damage to either when the blade encounters an obstruction, the spiral member having a series of substantially identical cutting elements at its periphery, said elements being adjustable radially.

2. In a backfiller attachment of the class described, in combination, a body, means for attaching said body to a tractor or the like, a blade extending along said body, power means connected to said blade for rotating the same, said blade comprising a continuous spiral member mounted on a drive shaft, the power means being driveably connected at one end of said shaft for rotating the same and the member thereon, drive limiting means interposed between said power means and shaft to prevent damage to either when the blade encounters an obstruction, a stiffening element affixed to the blade near the periphery and extending there-along the edge of the member being provided with replaceable cutting elements adjacent said stiffening member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,337,184 4/1920 Adams 37810 XR 1,563,975 12/1925 Goeringer 37-144 1,677,342 7/1928 Hodgen 37l44 2,714,775 8/1955 Crawford 37-144 2,989,127 6/1961 Oertle 172103 XR 3,181,258 5/1965 Duncan 37-144 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiner, 

